Tattoos are popular these days, to say the least, but more and more people out there are experiencing classic cases of tattoo regret. It can happen to anyone; you think you want an image on your body forever, and things change. Fortunately, that isn’t as big of a deal as it may have once been, as there are more ways to remove tattoos than ever before. The trick is in finding the best ways to remove your unwanted body art.
Laser Tattoo Removal
Laser removal is the most popular method of tattoo removal. “Tattoos are created by ink drops placed under the skin by a needle,” says the Mayo Clinic’s overview on cosmetic surgery used to repair skin problems. “[The laser] is most often used to remove tattoos and other pigmented or discolored skin. The laser light passes through the skin and is absorbed by the ink, causing it to break into smaller pieces. The body’s natural filtering system absorbs the small pieces of ink. Bright green, yellow and red inks are most difficult to remove.”
Laser tattoo removal does not come cheap. It often takes several sessions for the tattoo ink to fade enough to be less noticeable, but it has proven to be the most reliable way of removing an unwanted tattoo for good.
Tattoo Cover-Up
There is another option for those who aren’t willing to go through the time or expense needed to undergo laser surgery for tattoo removal: disguising it. Pay a visit to one of your local tattoo artists and show him the tattoo that you no longer want. He may be able to create another tattoo, one that is more meaningful for you at the time, to cover up the unwanted ink on your body. While this is not necessarily a method of removing the old tattoo, it does change it into a more desirable image.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is a method of tattoo removal in which the top layers of the skin that contain the pigment are actually sloughed off, much like sandpaper. A fine wire brush or sanding disc is used to remove the skin layers, very much like sandpaper on wood. While this is one of the more popular methods of tattoo removal, it is certainly one of the more painful. Dermabrasion has also been known to leave scars on some patients, as well.
About this Author
Nicole Campbell has been writing professionally since 2005. With an extensive medical background, a nursing degree, and interest in medical- and health-related writing as well as experience with various lifestyle topics, she prides herself on her conversational, active voice and ability to relate to the average reader.
